Capstone Project Ideas - experienced nurse, but new to ED

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Specializes in Frontline stuff.

Hey Everyone!

I have been a nurse for almost 10 years. Over 5 spent in various adult ICUs, over 4 spent in pediatrics/PICU. I have always wanted to try working in the ED. It's been part of my nursing bucket list. So I'm checking that off next month when I transfer and will be rotating between adult & peds ED. I realize I will need to 'stop being an ICU nurse,' and I'm focused on looking forward to learning new things, and working in a new environment. I'm also a little terrified.

I am finishing up my BSN as I write this and will be graduating in April. I need a topic for a Capstone project ASAP. I see my being the newbie (without prior ED experience), as a barrier to gaining buy-in or my new coworkers taking any potential ideas for a project seriously.

With that being said, anyone have any great ideas for a project? ?

Thanks for reading!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

How about "developing a meaningful ED orientation for an experienced critical care nurse" as your project? ? Because seriously, you already have a lot of the relevant stuff in your brain, it just needs a little rearranging!

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Specializes in Frontline stuff.

That's hilarious (and kind of a great idea)!

I decided that don't want to annoy my new coworkers, so I have picked a community health project about a topic which I feel passionate: prevention of pediatric vehicular heattstroke

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
On 2/1/2019 at 7:39 PM, tachyallday said:

I have picked a community health project about a topic which I feel passionate: prevention of pediatric vehicular heattstroke

That is a really great topic. Heartbreaking, I just don't understand how people forget their littles are in the car! I am paranoid about it, so I put my bag in the backseat. I have also heard ideas to put your phone in the backseat too.

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Specializes in Frontline stuff.

Pixie.RN - that is an excellent & one of the recommended strategies for not forgetting - good job.

It can happen when our lizard brains are on autopilot & our routine is broken. I used to judge parents HARD until I read this article a number of years back:

Can happen to the best of parents!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/fatal-distraction-forgetting-a-child-in-thebackseat-of-a-car-is-a-horrifying-mistake-is-it-a-crime/2014/06/16/8ae0fe3a-f580-11e3-a3a5-42be35962a52_story.html?utm_term=.3a7bfa7f1417

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I didn't leave my kiddos in the car. However, when we lived in Japan and I was a brand new Mom, I did lock my newborn in the car accidentally when I put him in the corificeat and then threw my keys over to the drivers side then proceeded to lock all the doors....grrrr....It was December in Japan and pretty cold. Had to have the MPs come and jimmy the lock....my son (now 38) never let me forget it....

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3 hours ago, traumaRUs said:

I didn't leave my kiddos in the car. However, when we lived in Japan and I was a brand new Mom, I did lock my newborn in the car accidentally when I put him in the corificeat and then threw my keys over to the drivers side then proceeded to lock all the doors....grrrr....It was December in Japan and pretty cold. Had to have the MPs come and jimmy the lock....my son (now 38) never let me forget it....

I locked my little bit in the car when he was 6 months old. Fire Dept came to jimmy the lock. Fire chief gave me a little lecture and left.

Then I turned to get him out of the car and realized same fire chief had locked the door ? Had to call them back!

Fortunately no weather issues that day.

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